The first Apple release of the year is… a second-gen AirTag.
After five years, Apple has finally refreshed its AirTag item tracker. Announced in a press release, Apple says the new AirTag is equipped with a second-gen Ultra Wideband chip (same one in the iPhone that allows users to locate it from “up to 50 percent farther away than the previous generation.”
The new AirTag also has improved Bluetooth and the Precision Finding feature works with Apple Watch Series 9 (or later) and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (or later). The latter feature works exactly like it does with an iPhone with visual, audio, and haptic feedback to help guide you to the new AirTag.
See New AirTag 2 at Apple.com
See AirTag at Amazon
Apple also says the new AirTag is 50 percent louder, which allows users to hear its speaker from “up to 2x farther,” than the original thanks to an “updated internal design.”
Otherwise, the new AirTag is virtually the same as the original. It has the same design (compatible with all previous key chains and cases) that can be laser-engraved with an emoji or text (such as your initials) at checkout when purchased from Apple. It still uses a CR2032 coin-cell battery, which is good for around one year of use before needing a replacement.
Since their release in 2021, AirTags have become indispensable for anyone looking to track the location of their items. I have one inside every backpack and piece of luggage I own. Some people even attach AirTags to their pets, children, and the elderly, even though Apple advises against doing so. That’s just how useful AirTags have become.
“Designed exclusively for tracking objects, and not people or pets, the new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently,” Apple states in its press release.
Lastly, Apple is partnering with 15 additional airlines (bringing the total to more than 50) to allow users to temporarily share the location of their AirTag using its Share Item Location feature. These limited-time location links have helped improve luggage recovery, according to Apple. “According to SITA, a leading IT provider for airlines, carriers report that using Share Item Location has reduced baggage delays by 26 percent and reduced incidences of ‘truly lost’ or unrecoverable luggage by 90 percent.”
The new AirTag is available for order on Apple.com starting today, with the same pricing as the original: $29 for one or $99 for a four-pack. It’ll be available in Apple Stores “later this week.”
See New AirTag 2 at Apple.com
See AirTag at Amazon
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